Builder set



April 2, 1929- c. SWEET 1,707,691

BUILDER SET Original FiledNov. 9, 1926 Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

'cmrroan I. swam, or STERLING, rumors, Assmnon r arnx s'rmme Con PANY, or CHICAGO, rumors, A 'conrom'rron or rumors.

BUILDER SET.

Application filed November 9, 1926, Serial No. 147,278. Renewed February 4, 1929.

This invention relates to builder sets. that is, sets composed of a plurality of units or elements which may be, connected to each other in a large variety of ways so as to thereby form structures or toys of different characters, and the invention particularly relates to a connector whereby by certain rods or dowels may be connected to each other at different angles or in parallel relation for the purpose of forming different structures.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a builder set consisting of rods and connectin elements therefor of an extremely simple 0 aracter but so constructed that a very large number of structural combinations may be made and which includes a connecting element so formed that the rod elements may be engaged with each other in a large number of different positions and angles.

A further object is to so form this connecting element and the extremities of the rods or dowels coacting therewith that the rods or dowels may be very firmly engaged with the connecting element and held rigidly in desired positions.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a trian ular structure formed by the elements 0 my builder set;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of conjoined builder set elements;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2 with the connection disks in section.

Referring to'these drawings it will be seen that the connecting element 10 is disk-shaped and stamped up from thin sheet metal. The

central portion of the disk is formed with an aperture 11 and immediately surrounding the aperture there is a bulged or protuberant portion 12. At uniform intervals the margin of the disk is stamped up so that this margin is slightly sinuous to thereby provide a plurality of inwardly projecting, struck up, somewhat triangular ribs or protuberances 13 defining radial seats 14. These seats are defined by the side walls of the protuberant portions 13 and these side walls are tangential to the central opening of the disk so that the seats 14 are all uniform in width.

may be disposed upon a rod or dowel 15 with i the rod or dowel extending throu h the central apertures 11 of the disk. ther rods or dowels may now be connected to the disk by forcing the margin of the disk at the seat 14 into the kerf 16. The rod or dowel will now be held firmly'against any oscillation or rotation between adjacent protuberant portions 13 and inasmuch as the margin of the disk is inserted in the kerf, the rod will be held against movement transverse to the plane of the disk.

By usin gaglng ro s of different lengths or of any desired length with the disks, a very large number of structures may be formed from these very simple elements. In actual practice each set will consist of twelve dowels or rods, of six different lengths, and thirty metal disks, and with these relatively few and simple parts, many hundreds of different structures can be built. I have not attem ted to illustrate all of the combinations which may be made by combining in various ways the two simple elements which form my builder set as many of these combinations will be self-evident. Obviously slight variations might be made in the exact form of the disk without departing from the spirit of the invention and while preferably the rods will be circular and the central opening through the disk will be circular, rods of other cross sectional form might be used and the central 0 ening through the disk be made so as to con orm to the shape of the rods.

I claim I 1. As an article of manufacture, an element for builder sets comprising a disk of thin sheet metal, the center of which is formed with an aperture, the material of the disk immediately surrounding the aperture being outwardly bulged in one direction and the margin of the disk being formed with a plurality of uniformly spaced triangular protuberances defining a plurality of radial seats.

2. A builder set including a plurality of a number of these disks and enrods having diametrically cleft ends, and connecting members for the rods, each member consisting of a disk of thin sheet metal, the disk having a central aperture and radial protuberances around its'margin defining a plurality of radial seats With which the cleft ends of the rods may be engaged.

3. A builder set including a plurality of rods having diametrically cleft ends, and connecting members for the rods, each member consisting of a disk of thin sheet metal, the disk being formed with a central aperture, and Ya protuberant portion immediately surrounding the aperture, the margin of the disk being formed to provide a. plurality of radially disposed, triangular protuberances defining radial seats over which the cleft ends of the rods may be engaged.

4. In a builder set, a plurality of rods of different lengths,each rod at its opposite ends being diametrically cleft, and connecting elements for the rods each consisting of a disk of thin sheet metal, the center of the disk having an aperture snugly fitting any one of the rods, the margin of the disk being forme'd'to provide a plurality of alternately depressed and protubcrantportions defining radial seats, said seats being adapted to be inserted in the cleft of any of the rods.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. I L CLIFFORD I. SWEET. 

